Critical resource notification system and interface device

ABSTRACT

A system and device that communicates critical resource information is described. The resource notification system comprises a resource distributor, a resource notification server, and a networked interface device. The resource distributor generates a demand response action that is associated with a particular resource. The resource distributor is also communicatively coupled to a wide area network. The resource notification server, which is also communicatively coupled to the wide area network, receives and processes the demand response action and generates a demand response event signal that is communicated to a customer list. The networked interface device comprises at least one indicator. The networked interface device receives the demand response event signal that triggers at least one indicator corresponding to the demand response action generated by the resource distributor, wherein the indicator provides a real-time indication that corresponds to the usage of the particular resource.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is related to provisional application No. 60/977,909filed on Oct. 5, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a critical resource notification system andnetworked interface device. More particularly, the invention relates toa critical resource notification system and networked interface devicefor the distribution of resources including, but not limited to,electricity, water, and natural gas.

BACKGROUND

Effective resource management is especially critical when communitiesare confronted with a scarcity of the resource in question. Resourcesinclude electricity, water, gas and natural resources such as oil. Thedefinition of resources may also be extended to include water qualityand air quality, since adequate water quality and air quality arenecessary to support a self-sustaining environment.

Resource management is necessary so that systems can optimize the use ofa limited resource. Currently, there are various systems for managingresources in various environments such as buildings, apartments,industrial facilities, and computing systems. Regretfully, thesesolutions have not been extended to individuals or small businesses,which account for a substantial portion of each utility's customers.

For example, when the usage of a resource such as electricity becomesstrained in response to supply conditions, the result may be a “rollingblackout.” A rolling blackout refers to an intentionally engineeredelectrical power outage that is caused by insufficient electrical powerresources to meet demand for electricity. In California, rollingblackouts are triggered by unusually hot temperatures that cause a surgein demand resulting in heavy use of air conditioning. There are threeemergency stages that identify the severity of the problem. In a Stage 1emergency, a general call for voluntary conservation is issued. A Stage2 emergency results in power being temporarily cut off to certain largeusers that have agreed to this arrangement in exchange for lower rates.When a Stage 3 emergency is issued, electric to one of the fourteenCalifornia grids is shut off for a fixed period of time that can rangefrom 60 minutes to 2½ hours. If after this period of time the Stage 3emergency still exists, power is restored to this grid but then the nextgrid in the sequence is blacked out, and so on, until the situation isstabilized. Thus, the blackout “rolls” from one grid to the next.

In California, each customer's electric bill includes the number of thepower grid (from 1 to 14) that customer belongs to; this gives customersat least some advance notice of when their electricity might be turnedoff in the event of a Stage 3 emergency. The grids are set up in such amanner as to ensure that a large percentage of customers in the sameneighborhood would not be blacked out concurrently, which could invitelooting and other related problems. Normal electricity customers canfall within the areas reserved for emergency use if they are near ahospital or other critical infrastructure, in which case theirelectricity bill will indicate a power grid of 99 and they will not beaffected by rolling blackouts.

One mechanism that is used to encourage customers to reduce demand andthereby reduce the peak demand for electricity is referred to as demandresponse (DR). DR refers to a mechanism to manage the demand forcustomers in response to supply conditions. For example, electricitycustomers must reduce their consumption at critical times or in responseto market prices.

In demand response applications, customers shed loads in response to arequest by a utility or market price conditions. Services are reducedaccording to a preplanned load prioritization scheme during criticaltimeframes. An alternative to load shedding is on-site generation ofelectricity to supplement the power grid. Under conditions of tightelectricity supply, demand response can significantly reduce the peakprice and, in general, electricity price volatility.

Generally, demand response technologies detect the need for loadshedding, communicate the demand to participating users, automate loadshedding, and verify compliance with demand-response programs. Thesesystems are complex and costly to implement because they rely oncontrolling the usage of the resource.

Thus, there is a need for a system and device that does not rely oncontrolling the usage of the resource, that is cost effective toimplement, and that satisfies the goals of a demand responseapplication.

SUMMARY

A system and device that communicates critical resource information isdescribed. The resource notification system comprises a resourcedistributor, a resource notification server, and a networked interfacedevice. The resource distributor generates a demand response action thatis associated with a particular resource. The resource distributor isalso communicatively coupled to a wide area network. The resourcenotification server, which is also communicatively coupled to the widearea network, receives and processes the demand response action andgenerates a demand response event signal that is communicated to acustomer list. Each customer has an associated networked interfacedevice. The networked interface device comprises at least one indicatorthat is operatively coupled to at least one appliance. The networkedinterface device receives the demand response event signal that triggersthe indicator corresponding to the demand response action generated bythe resource distributor, wherein the indicator provides a real-timeindication that corresponds to the usage of the particular resource.

The networked interface device communicates critical resourceinformation. The networked interface device comprises at least oneindicator that provides a real-time indication that corresponds to theusage of a particular resource. Additionally, the networked interfacedevice comprises a means for being communicatively coupled to a widearea network and communicating with the resource notification serverthat receives a demand response action from the resource distributor asdescribed above. Furthermore, the networked interface device comprises ameans for interfacing with an appliance. Further still, the networkedinterface device comprises a means for processing the demand responseevent signal that triggers the indicator corresponding to the demandresponse action generated by the resource distributor.

DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing drawings which are for illustrative, not limiting, purposes.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative Resource Notification System.

FIG. 2 shows the illustrative operation of the Resource NotificationSystem.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative desktop information system that providescustomer notification.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative mobile information system that providescustomer notification.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative facility management system that providescustomer notification.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative networked interface device.

FIG. 7 shows the use of a networked interface device for customernotification.

FIG. 8 shows the use of a proxy device for customer notification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the followingdescription is illustrative and not in any way limiting. Otherembodiments of the claimed subject matter will readily suggestthemselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of thisdisclosure. It shall be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in theart that the systems, and devices described hereinafter may vary as toconfiguration and as to details. Additionally, the methods may vary asto details, order of the actions, or other variations without departingfrom the illustrative method disclosed herein.

The solution described herein provides close integration of an automatedsystem that allows both the utility and the customer to pre-programlevels of demand, cost and processes. The solution supports changingconfigurations through a Web Service that can also monitor the dynamicprocess of the shed scenarios.

The system, device and methods can be used to send critical notificationto customers concerning some resource they consume such as electricity,water, or natural gas. Customers are typically entities such asbusinesses or consumers that use and obtain some resource from aprovider of that resource. Typically, the customer purchases theresource from the provider based upon an agreed upon rate. When eitherthe price or availability of the resource changes in some criticalfashion then it may become necessary for the providers of the resourceto notify the customer of this change so that they can modify their useof the resource accordingly.

The system, device and methods described herein allow criticalnotification of the availability of a resource with the expectation thatcustomers will reduce their consumption thus maintaining theavailability of the resource. Examples include electricity usage where asmall reduction of the energy load by the customers could result in theavoidance of so called rolling blackouts as described above.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown an illustrative resource notificationsystem and its associated elements. The illustrative notificationcomprises a resource distributor 101 and resource provider 102 that arecommunicatively coupled to the resource notification server 103 via awide area network 104. The wide area network may be the Internet, anIntranet, an Extranet, or any other such wide area network. By way ofexample and not of limitation the wide area network is the Internet andcommunications are performed using the TCP/IP protocol suite.

Typically, the resource distributor 101 is a utility company such as anelectrical company, a water company, a gas company, or any other suchutility company that manages a resource. For illustrative purposes only,the resource distributor 101 is an electric company. The resourceprovider 102 is a more inclusive term that includes private companiesthat sells or provides resources to the resource distributor 101. Anillustrative resource provider 102 is a private company generatingelectricity from solar power sells the electricity to the utilitycompany.

The resource notification server 103 has a corresponding notificationdatabase 105. The notification database 105 comprises a list ofcustomers such as individuals or families living in apartments andhouses, and “entities” such as workers operating in small businessesthat lease office space. In general, the notification database 105includes a list of utility customers that use or access some resource.

The resource notification server 103 provides an alert or notificationregarding the resource to networked interface devices that arecommunicatively coupled to the resource notification server 103. Inoperation, the resource notification server 103 communicates criticalresource information to each of the networked interface device. By wayof example and not of limitation, the critical resource informationincludes notification that there is a severe change in demand for theparticular resource that results in an inability to use the resource.The critical resource information may also includes communicate asignificant change in demand for the particular resource that precedesthe severe change in demand. Thus, critical resource information mayinclude a notification that the price of electricity is going toincrease 20% if the customer elects to continue using a particularappliance.

In the illustrative embodiment, the networked interface devices includea desktop information system 107, a mobile information system 108, afacility management system 109, a customer notification proxy 110, andsimple customer interface device 111.

In operation, the resource distributor 101 or resource provider 102sends a notification to the resource notification server 103 thatindicates a “status” to resource notification server 103. The resourcenotification server 103 interprets the notification and generates pricelevels and demand response event signals are published as services toeach of the networked interface devices.

In the illustrative embodiment, the resource notification serveroperates as a Web Service. A Web Service is a software system that isdesigned to support interoperable machine-to-machine interactions over anetwork. Generally, customers and servers communicate using XML messagesthat follow the Service Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP) standard.SOAP is an XML-based, extensible message envelope format, with bindingsto underlying protocols. The primary protocols are HTTP and HTTPS,although bindings for other protocols shall be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown an illustrative operation of theresource notification server described above. The resource distributor101 or 102 generates a demand response action or notification that isassociated with a particular resource. A server 201 or operator 202 maygenerate the demand response action that is communicated via a WebService Interface 203. The demand response action corresponds to achange in demand for a particular resource. In the illustrativeembodiment, the Web Service Interface 203 is an XML interface with apredetermined mechanism that triggers the generation of the demandresponse action. The operator 202 may then proceed to confirm that thedemand response action is the appropriate notification to becommunicating to the resource notification server 104. By way of exampleand not of limitation, the operator 202 provides this confirmation usinga web browser interface 204.

The resource notification server 103 that is also communicativelycoupled to the wide area network receives and processes the demandresponse action and generates a demand response event signal that iscommunicated to a customer list that is extracted from the notificationdatabase 105. Each customer has an associated networked interface deviceas described in further detail below.

A system operator 205 manages the resource notification server 103 witha web browser interface 206. Depending on the particular application,the system operator 205 may operate remotely or may operate locally.Regardless, the web browser interface 206 provides a simple interfacefor the control of the resource notification server 103.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative desktop information system that providescustomer notification. The illustrative desktop information system 107receives the critical resource information 106. The critical resourceinformation 106 comprises a demand response event signal generated bythe resource notification server 103. Thus, the demand response evensignal is a subset of the critical resource information 106. The demandresponse event signal corresponds to a change in demand for theparticular resource.

In operation, the desktop information system 107 interfaces with theresource notification server 103 using a web browser interface 301. Thedesktop information system 107 performs a variety of different tasksusing router/proxy programs 302, analysis programs 303. Updatesregarding the critical resource information are communicated usinge-mail 304, monitoring programs 305, and RSS feeds 306.

For example, when a utility or Independent System Operator (ISO)predicts a spike in energy demand based on ambient temperature. Theutility then proceeds to signal a change in cost using a bid programalert through demand response application server such as the resourcenotification server 103. The price-level and demand response eventsignals are transmitted to facilities and published as Web services.Polling customers having the appropriate CLIR and software requestprice-levels every minute. EMS and lighting control systems carry out apower demand shed. An interface to a Programmable CommunicatingThermostat may accomplish this.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown an illustrative mobile informationsystem that provides customer notification. The mobile informationsystem 108 may receive a notification via a web browser 401, voicemessage 402, SMS 403, e-mail 403, monitoring programs 405, or other suchnotification means configured to be communicated to a mobile informationsystem 108. The mobile information system may be Wi-Fi enabled, enabledto communicate using cellular frequency bands, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown an illustrative facility managementsystem that provides customer notification. In this embodiment, thecritical resource information is communicated from the resourcenotification server 103 to the facility management system 109. Thefacility management system includes a simple interface 501 and facilityautomation programs 502. The facility management system proceeds togenerate control signals 504 that are communicated to facility equipment503 that includes printers, lighting, server farms, refrigeration units,uninterruptible power supplies, and other such facility equipment.

The facility management system 109 provides a simple client interfacethat is used to control the facility equipment. For example, thefacility management system 109 is configured to reduce power consumptionby interfacing with the electrical controls in a building and providingpre-programmed routines to reduce the power load upon receipt ofcritical resource information.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown an illustrative networked interfacedevice. The illustrative networked device 601 comprises at least oneindicator. By way of example and not of limitation, a plurality ofvisible indicators are utilized in an appliance alert system. Thenetworked interface device 601 communicates critical resourceinformation such as a demand response action directly to the customer.The indicators for the networked interface device include visible,auditory, or audio-visual indicators that provide a real-time indicationthat corresponds to the usage of a particular resource.

The illustrative networked interface device 601 comprises a firstvisible indicator 602 that is shown as green, a second visible indicator603 that is represented by a yellow color, and a third visible indicator604 that is red, a fourth visible indicator 605 and a button 606. Theillustrative button 606 is an on/off button and the fourth visibleindicator 605 indicates that the networked device has networkconnectivity; so the visible indicator 605 may also blink at variousfrequencies and be solid to further indicate the degree or level ofnetwork connectivity that has been reached.

Additionally, the networked interface device 601 comprises a means forbeing communicatively coupled to a wide area network and communicatingwith the resource notification server that receives a demand responseaction from the resource distributor as described above.

Furthermore, the networked interface device 601 comprises a means forinterfacing with an appliance. The appliance may be selected from agroup of appliances consisting of an air conditioner, an oven, a heater,a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a range, a television, a computer, awater heater, a water cooler, a coffee maker, and a microwave.

Further still, the networked interface device 601 comprises a means forprocessing the demand response event signal that triggers at least onevisible indicator corresponding to the demand response action generatedby the resource distributor. In operation, the networked interfacedevice 601 receives; the demand response event signal that triggers atleast one visible indicator corresponding to the demand response actiongenerated by the resource distributor. The visible indicator provides areal-time indication that corresponds to the usage of the particularresource.

For example, the red visible indicator 604 may communicate a severechange in demand for the particular resource that results in aninability to use the resource. More specifically, the red visibleindicator 604 may indicate that use of the appliance is occurring duringpeak demand and shall result in a “brownout” or rolling blackout.Additionally the red visible indicator 604 may indicate that a severeprice change shall take place such as a 15% increase in power for thenext two-hour period. Thus, the red visible indicator 604 communicatesto a customer that the use of the appliance is not recommended becausethe impact to the customer may be severe.

The yellow indicator 603 may communicate a significant change in demandfor the particular resource. Typically, the yellow indicator 603precedes the severe change in demand that is communicated with the redvisible indicator 604. For example, the yellow indicator 603 indicatesthat there is currently a high energy demand, or that there is anincreased cost differential, or a combination thereof. The illustrativegreen indicator 602 may communicate that electrical demand is low andthat operation of the appliance does not affect the availability of theresource.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is shown two different embodiments of thenetworked interface device 111 for customer notification incommunication with resource notification server 103. In the firstembodiment, the networked interface device 111 communicates with aresource notification server 103 using a hard wired network connectionsuch a telephone line, a cable, or any other such physical interface. Inthe second embodiment, the networked device 111 is communicativelycoupled to the resource notification server 103 using a wirelesscommunication technology 702. The wireless communication technology 702includes, by way of example and not of limitation, CDMA, GSM or UMTS orany other wireless communication system such as Wi-Fi or WiMAX.

Referring to FIG. 8 there is shown the use of a proxy device forcustomer notification. The proxy device 110 includes a user display 701.Generally, the client notification proxy 110 is behind a firewall (notshown) and receives critical resource information 106 from the resourcenotification server 103. The critical resource information 106 iscommunicated via the client notification proxy 110 to the facilitymanagement system 109, desktop information system 107, and the networkedinterface device 111. The operations of the facility management system109, desktop information system 107, and networked interface device havebeen described above.

In operation, the client notification proxy 110 is configured tocommunicate with the resource notification server 103 over the wide areanetwork. The client notification proxy 110 then communicates thecritical resource information to devices and systems that are in withinits' local area network. The client notification proxy 110 may operatewithin a small commercial enterprise or residence.

It is to be understood that the detailed description of illustrativeembodiments are provided for illustrative purposes. The scope of theclaims is not limited to these specific embodiments or examples. Forexample, a networked interface device 111 has been described, howeverthis solution may be extended to any source electronic device having theproperties of the networked interface device described herein.Therefore, various elements, details, execution of any methods, and usescan differ from those just described, or be expanded on or implementedusing technologies not yet commercially viable, and yet still be withinthe inventive concepts of the present disclosure. The scope of theinvention is determined by the following claims and their legalequivalents.

1. A resource notification system that communicates critical resourceinformation, the resource notification system comprising: a resourcedistributor communicatively coupled to a wide area network, the resourcedistributor configured to generate a demand response action for aparticular resource; a resource notification server communicativelycoupled to the wide area network, the resource notification serverconfigured to process the demand response action and generate a demandresponse event signal that is communicated to a customer list; and atleast one networked interface device associated with each customer inthe customer list, the networked interface device comprising at leastone indicator, the networked interface device configured to receive thedemand response event signal that triggers at least one indicatorcorresponding to the demand response action generated by the resourcedistributor, wherein the indicator provides a real-time indication thatcorresponds to the usage of the particular resource.
 2. The resourcenotification system of claim 1 wherein the demand response action andthe demand response event signal corresponds to a change in demand forthe particular resource.
 3. The resource notification system of claim 2wherein the indicator associated with the networked interface devicefurther comprises: a first indicator that communicates a severe changein demand for the particular resource that results an inability to usethe resource; and a second indicator that communicates a significantchange in demand for the particular resource that precedes the severechange in demand.
 4. The resource notification system of claim 3 whereinthe wide area network is the Internet and the communications between theresource distributor, the resource notification server, and thenetworked interface device are performed using the TCP/IP protocolsuite.
 5. The resource notification system of claim 4 wherein the demandresponse action and the demand response event signal corresponds to achange in price for the particular resource.
 6. The resourcenotification system of claim 5 wherein the particular resource is powerand the demand response action is related to peak demand.
 7. A networkedinterface device that communicates critical resource information, thenetworked interface device comprising: at least one indicator thatprovides a real-time indication that corresponds to the usage of aparticular resource; a means for being communicatively coupled to a widearea network and communicating with a resource notification server thatreceives a demand response action from a resource distributor, theresource notification server configured to process the demand responseaction and generate a demand response event signal that is communicatedto a customer list; a means for interfacing with an appliance; and ameans for processing the demand response event signal that triggers theat least one indicator corresponding to the demand response actiongenerated by the resource distributor.
 8. The networked interface deviceof claim 7 wherein the demand response action and the demand responseevent signal corresponds to a change in demand for the particularresource.
 9. The networked interface device of claim 8 wherein theindicator associated with the networked interface device furthercomprises: a first indicator that communicates a severe change in demandfor the particular resource that results an inability to use theresource; and a second indicator that communicates a significant changein demand for the particular resource that precedes the severe change indemand.
 10. The networked interface device of claim 9 wherein the widearea network is the Internet and the communications between the resourcedistributor, the resource notification server, and the networkedinterface device are performed using the TCP/IP protocol suite.
 11. Thenetworked interface device of claim 10 wherein the demand responseaction and the demand response event signal corresponds to a change inprice for the particular resource.
 12. The networked interface device ofclaim 11 wherein the particular resource is power and the demandresponse action is related to peak demand.